Even so, today I am reminded that my troubles, all my troubles balled together and multiplied by ten or so are nothing compared to what other Christians face. Consider this passage today
1 Peter 4:12 (NIV)
Suffering for Being a Christian
12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.
The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984
Did you notice what the section title (pericope) said? "Suffering for Being a Christian" Now there's something that I really don't have a perspective on. You see, the 'things' I suffer are 'as a Christian' not 'for being a Christian.'
There's a world of difference between those two. 'As a Christian' I am offended, appalled, ridiculed, scoffed at and marginalized. oooOOOooo scary. The only real opposition I face is that I am sometimes walking East when everyone around me is walking West. It's like the opposition a salmon faces when it is trying to swim upstream, against the current. Hardly a life-threatening situation! And when I tire of the 'opposition' I can simply go home, close the door, put my feet up and take a nap till my irritation passes.
But that is not the case for those who are persecuted 'for being a Christian.' It's easy for me to believe that when Peter wrote the passage I study today there were people being stoned to death or crucified for their faith in Jesus. But it is very difficult for me to accept that that same practice continues today. Oh the methods may be different but the outcome is still the same. There are people on this planet who are killed for their faith in Jesus. There are people who lose their homes, their families, their friends, all their earthly possessions. Not only that but they lose their freedom and find themselves in prison. Some lose their life. That's real, in-your-face opposition for being a Christian. And indeed, that surprises me. I'd like to think that we live in an advanced age of reason and that nobody gets killed because they proclaim the Risen King. But, I am naive. I live in a sheltered society where the biggest challenge is deciding what to eat. That's pretty embarassing.
So, these words from the pen of Peter are here to remind me of the suffering of others whose faith is sorely tested. They are also to remind me that I stand in opposition to the culture in which I live. Neither I nor the believers in oppressed countries should be surprised that there is opposition. And no matter how consequential the suffering, we are to count it as a blessing. I mean, when it comes right down to it, isn't that kind of persecution an honor and a tribute?
Recently in response to one of my posts, a friend remarked that "if I were indicted for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict me?" That's a remarkable question in light of today's passage. In order for us to face suffering for being a Christian, there must be sufficient evidence. That's what I meant when I asked if this isn't an honor and a tribute.
What are we doing, today, that would warrant opposition and suffering for being a Christian? If you, like me, can find nothing in answer to that challenge, isn't that the strange thing here?
Checking the map,
Carl
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1 comment:
Carl ... I think of your closing question, especially I was the one who wrote that point about being convicted of being a Christian. You wrote: "What are we doing, today, that would warrant opposition and suffering for being a Christian? If you, like me, can find nothing in answer to that challenge, isn't that the strange thing here?"
Well, to use your own teaching word picture of the salmon going upstream to find his "home," we might use this as the way of determining whether we're really out there BEING a Christian to the point of needing to swim upstream.
I guess it could be observed - for the Christian in today's world - if we feel that we're swimming downstream with the currents of the world, agreeing with what's happening and not having to swim against the currents, then we're either not Christian or we're a believer floating along with the stream - wherever we're being carried.
However, if we're IN the world but not OF the world, we will feel the currents and we'll know that we're swimming upstream and struggling to fight such currents as the culture is sending at us. We'll truly be struggling to swim against the currents of culture, and occasionally, like the salmon, we'll have to fight through very difficult barriers, which, like those whom you mention in other cultures could be life threatening.
So, I guess I need to ask myself ... where and how am I swimming these days? And perhaps the answer will help me jump in and swim upstream. ... <'BB><
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